Study and work in the manner of great artists who have been inspired by nature. Throughout history, explorers, scientists, and artists have kept sketchbooks. They recorded their trips, observations, and inspirations relating to the natural world on journeys of exploration. They painted impressions of landscapes and captured nature symbolically on the pages of their sketchbooks.

In this class, each session will begin with an examination of an artists’ life and art, and then we will work in the manner of that artist. Part of the class will be spent outside making our own observations. Students can use the medium of their choice.

Instructor Kimberly Mullarkey has a bachelor’s degree in fine art from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a master of fine arts degree from Northern Illinois University. She lived in France for six months, where she studied early Northern Renaissance painting. She teaches botanical art at The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden. She also teaches drawing and design at the College of DuPage. Her work is included in the Best of Colored Pencil series. She has spoken at many local art leagues about creativity, botanical art, and her own work. To fulfill her wanderlust, she leads trips.